Travelling to Peru with Teenagers

Peru is one of the best places to travel with teens in Latin America and a trip here is sure to be a thrilling once-in-a-lifetime experience for the whole family. Whether your kids are energetic tweens or restless older teenagers, Peru is an enthralling country with plenty on offer for every age and activity level.  

The key to an unforgettable family holiday with teens in Peru is to intersperse visiting the amazing ruins, temples, museums, and churches with high-energy activities such as hiking, mountain biking trips, or white water rafting. This way, no member of the family goes into culture overload and your teenagers can enjoy a fun mix of things to do on the trip. 

At Scott Dunn, we know how to customise the best combination of experiences to make sure that no matter your teenager’s interests, your family will be well taken care of.

Is Peru a Good Place to Visit with Teens?

Peru is a fantastic destination for a family holiday with teenagers because there’s so much to see and do. From mountain biking on ancient Inca trails to taking selfies with llamas at Machu Picchu, the only real question is: where to travel first with your teens? 

If you’re travelling with thrill-seekers, Peru is a natural amusement park. To start the epic adventure, take your teens white water rafting on the Rio Apurimac near Cusco, where you’ll ride over rapids through an astonishing 3000m-deep canyon, and break for campfire meals on sandy beaches. We can also arrange an unforgettable inflatable canoeing trip on a tranquil section of the Urubamba River that’s perfect for families with older kids (minimum age is 10).

The nearby Sacred Valley also offers plenty of activities to keep the kids occupied. In this historical valley, adventurous trails wind through rugged mountain landscapes once home to the ancient Inca civilisation. We recommend you stay at the rustic-chic Hotel Sol y Luna, just outside Urubamba, where your teens can go horseback riding and take in glorious views of the Andean foothills.

For a change of scenery, trek through the dense greenery of the Amazonian rainforest on a canopy walk. Your family will get a unique perspective of the jungle while coming face-to-face with brightly coloured toucans and rambunctious monkeys swinging through the treetops. It’s a great way for everyone to learn about the fascinating wildlife at each level of this diverse ecosystem.

Exploring culturally rich cities in Peru gives teens insight into how these vibrant places are different to what they know at home – after all, is there any greater education than travel? Cusco in particular is sure to be a hit with your kids. It’s a melting pot of quaint streets, colonial churches and local markets buzzing with life. Cusco sits at around 3,400 metres above sea level, which means it’s important to leave some time in your itinerary for you and your children to get used to the altitude, especially if you’re planning a trek to the iconic ruins of Machu Picchu. 

If you need a break from the elevation altogether, head to vibrant Lima, which also has a thriving foodie scene, along with many interesting museums. Further up the desert coast is beachside Máncora, where teens can learn to surf, go on whale-watching tours, or simply relax on palm-dotted beaches.

Our Destination Manager, Sophie Tomlin, recommends some exciting activities for teens in Peru:

“There’s plenty to keep restless teens entertained in Peru! Adrenaline-inducing white water rafting, stand-up paddle boarding on lakes, mountain biking around Inca sites, and horse-riding through the scenic Sacred Valley. Of course, there are also lots of day hikes that we can suggest which aren’t overly strenuous or difficult and can be broken up with visits to indigenous villages and picnic lunches.”

Can You Go to Machu Picchu with Teens?

If you’re planning an epic trip to Peru, no doubt you’ll have your sights set on the country’s most famous attraction: Machu Picchu. For teens, this presents them with an invaluable opportunity to experience one of the great ancient sites of the world.

But you may be wondering: can you do Machu Picchu with kids? And is this part of Peru good for teens?

The short answer to both questions is: yes! 

You can definitely visit Machu Picchu with kids, especially teens – all it takes is a little preparation and choosing the best activities for your family, depending on the ages and abilities of your children. 

Everyone who goes to Machu Picchu must pre-purchase entry tickets and be accompanied by a guide. But don’t worry, our travel specialists will organise everything for you in advance.

Travelling to Machu Picchu with teens

A trip to Machu Picchu with teens is likely to be somewhat easier than travelling with little ones, as older kids should have no trouble with the huge stone steps at the site, as well as all the walking involved. 

Getting to Machu Picchu is half the fun and there are a few different ways to get there. There’s a scenic Inca Rail train which is ideal for families with younger kids or simply anyone who wants to take in the breathtaking views along the way from the comfort of their luxury carriage.

Visiting with your teenagers also opens up the possibility to hike the heart-pumping Inca Trail, which is suitable for children around eight years and above. You can also do the Jungle Inca Trek, which involves riding a bike for part of the way.

However you get there, Machu Picchu is one of the best places to travel with teens in Peru. Whether it's the jaw-dropping scenery of soaring, forested peaks and bright-green Inca terraces sprawling down the mountainside, or the captivating history and spirit of this cultural icon, visiting Machu Picchu with your teens is sure to be a deeply memorable and mind-expanding experience.

Is Machu Picchu Safe for a Family Holiday? 

The Inca Trail and the areas around Machu Picchu have large numbers of visitors year-round and are generally safer than other parts of the country.

To keep your family safe and protected from the elements, make sure to pack enough sunscreen, waterproof clothing, drink plenty of water to stay hydrated, and take into account that you'll need a bit of time to acclimatise to avoid altitude sickness.

Our Suggested Peru Family Trip Itinerary

At Scott Dunn, we'll make sure your family trip to Peru is guided by an itinerary that takes in the sights and activities you want to experience the most while keeping your teenager active and engaged.

Discover some of our specialist's top picks to include in your itinerary:

• Take a trip to the monumental, ultra-deep Colca Canyon and see the huge Andean condors gliding peacefully overhead
• Wander around charming Cusco and call in at intriguing museums, churches and markets
• Trek the Inca Trail and experience the immense wonder of Machu Picchu, then stop by other ancient ruins in villages nearby
• Go on a family hike or mountain biking adventure in the spectacular Sacred Valley
• Take your teens white water rafting and canoeing on the Urubamba River for plenty of thrills and family fun
• Uncover the history of indigenous communities on Lake Titicaca together and learn about the ingenious floating reed islands they live on
• Expand their developing palates with amazing local food in Lima, which is now known as a popular foodie destination
Tour the Amazon rainforest to see brightly coloured macaws descend on salt licks, and catch a glimpse of more amazing wildlife on a river cruise or jungle trek

Where to Stay in Peru with Teens

At Scott Dunn, our team of travel specialists can select the perfect accommodation for your family from our carefully curated collection of gorgeous luxury hotels across Peru. 

With its vibrant, youthful energy, Cusco is a fantastic place to stay on a family holiday with teens. Peru’s ancient Incan capital is home to luxurious hotels with a rich sense of history, including Monasterio, A Belmond Hotel, a centuries-old monastery with opulent rooms, and Palacio Nazarenas, a stunning restored convent with an outdoor pool.

Lima is a great starting point in Peru for family tours and our travel consultants have found some of the very best places to stay in the city. Our hand-picked Lima hotels are set in the sought-after oceanside area of Miraflores, and some offer convenient child-minding services and activities tailored to kids, such as yoga classes. 

In the Sacred Valley, you can stay within easy reach of historical Inca sites at boutique, rustic-style hotels with beautiful gardens and on-site horse stables. We can arrange stunning accommodation close to the vast Colca Canyon, where luxury casitas provide plenty of space for everyone to spread out, and unbelievably scenic locations set you up for the perfect family holiday.

If you're venturing into the rainforest, we can secure the best accommodation for your family at eco-focused jungle lodges in the thrilling Peruvian Amazon, where teenagers can go on tree canopy walks or guided nature excursions for the chance to see extraordinary wildlife such as giant river otters, colourful macaws and two-toed sloths.